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Friday, May 29, 2009

Join Blue Bunny's iScream Team and take a quick survey and you'll be allowed to print a $1/1 printable coupon. Head out to Wal-Mart and look for the single-size Blue Bunny ice cream sandwiches are priced at $1. These ice cream sandwiches may be found in freezers by the check stands or in the ice cream section. Other stores may also carry Blue Bunny single serve ice cream sandwiches too.

Dear Friends, I come to you asking you to please faithfully pray for me. I have been sick with Peritonitis, which is an infection in my peritoneal, since Wednesday. We had to cancel our weekend in Bermuda with the Cornerstone Church. The doctors have me on some strong antibiotics but I am still not well. Please pray for me that the Lord will allow this new medicine to kill the bacteria infection at once and for the Lord to touch me with his healing hands.God Bless you,

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Whine, whine, whine. I was in the middle of one of “those” weeks and I woke up that morning just feeling like I couldn’t take any more. I work for a great organization, but I have a very demanding job and work with some very unique personalities. If I’m not careful with my time and priorities, one little thing can upset my applecart and suddenly…there’s nothing but sauce.You know the feeling. You are questioning everything about your ‘work persona’. Can I handle my job today, and if I can’t, then what? Is this a symptom of something deeper? Should I be looking for another job? Should I just run away from it all and find a nice quiet little dark corner to shiver in for a while?Well, okay, maybe it hadn’t quite reached that point but it was close. I just knew that if one of my coworkers even breathed the wrong way I was going to lose it.So I went to my devotions that morning with a sense of desperation. Was the Lord going to lead me to that little known passage in the book of St. Lightbulb that says, “Thou shalt call thine workplace and thou shalt tell them thou is not working today as thou doest not like the way thine coworkers breatheth”?Before you start wondering what version of Scripture I’m using, let me just say that, no, I didn’t get approval to take a day off to wallow in my self-pity. What I did read was that I need to increase my brotherly (or sisterly) love. Hhhmmm. That was a bummer. I thought about that as I dragged myself to my car and bumped through the potholes to work.Strangely enough, the feeling of dread had mostly left by the time I reached my office. I work in a Christian organization and we have staff devotions every morning. The subject this morning was…you guessed it…brotherly love. Okay, the light was starting to break through my cloudy spirit. I let the love of God soften my heart and my mind and asked Him to let that love flow through me.Strangest thing happened! My whole attitude and emotional outlook changed and I felt optimistic for the first time in days. My interactions with my coworkers became light and happy and it turned out to be a fairly good day. Sure, things happened like they always do, but my perspective was altered as I began to look for ways to show the love of God to those around me.Funny how God works sometimes. Now I need to find the passage about the free trip to the Bahamas…

Thursday, May 21, 2009

I Had a chance to talk with Kelly Burton and asked her for an update on the Branson Gospel Music Convention http://www.bransongmc.com/ here is what she had to say.

With Branson Gospel Music Convention now less than two months away, excitement is building amongst artists and fans of the music. The staff is working on partnerships with local Branson businesses and SG industry and ministry leaders to ensure the event is one everyone will be talking about and one where the Lord’s name is lifted high. Look for announcements about ticket giveaways from several Branson area favorites coming soon. Meanwhile, the full schedule of concert line-ups is expected to be announced by the end of May. Everyone is encouraged to check it out and see when your favorites will be on stage so that you can be sure to be there. Another thing we’d like you to notice: there is only one stage at Branson GMC. You will see ‘headline’ names next to new discoveries… all ministering together to give you a diverse, personal, and ultimately wonderful worship & song experience.

Personally speaking We covet prayers for the convention. We truly, sincerely, more than anything want this event to touch and change lives for Christ. As we stick to this mission and as the time draws nearer, we are being challenged on every side: health, family, finances, diversity, logistics. And as this occurs, we continue to be lifted up by our partners and participants. Just this week we got an email from one of our artists, sending us the verse from her daily calendar: Philippians 4:13 , I can do everything through him who gives me strength! We also receive encouragement and prayer requests from our artists and our ticketholders on a regular basis… there is no family like the family of God! We believe that God is building a fellowship of believers through the work of this convention… and it hasn’t even happened yet! So, we expect that mighty victories are about to be won in His name.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

I was looking at a package of Riesens the other day and wondered where these lucious candies got their name. Being the ever resourceful researcher, I googled the name and found...nothing. Distributed by a company called "Storck", originally from Germany, Riesen candy has always been called Riesen, so I'm guessing it was the name of the guy who first stirred the vat full ingredients, stuck his finger in, licked it and said "Es schmeckt gut". Storck also has other wonderful names under it's candy umbrella...Toffifee...Milkfuls...and...Werther's Original. Yum.That started me thinking and dusting off my metaphors. And a metaphor, as I learned in English class, is "for cows to graze in...". Just as the Storck candy company has lots of different high-calorie delights, the Church takes in a lot of different denominations, doctrines, traditions and ideas. The tag of 'Southern Gospel' envelopes many different styles, sounds and presentations. And sometimes when someone uses the description of "Christian", that can also mean a lot of different things to different people.Christian, or "Christ-One", should mean to exemplify Jesus in word and deed. However, when the world watches Christians exhibit totally un-Christ-like behaviour, their perception of what is Christian can get completely skewed. We like to think that as Christians we have liberty in Jesus and we are free from the bondage of the law. However, the part about not doing things that would 'make your brother stumble' we conveniently put aside.I work for a Christian social services agency and as such, I represent the agency and Christ when I am in the community. I am especially aware of that when I wear the agency logo. The thing is, I need to always be aware that I am a witness to my faith regardless of where I am, what I'm wearing, and what I'm doing. I pray that I remember that the next time I loudly express my anger at being cut off by another driver and my window is open. That driver may be my next-door neighbour that I want to invite to a service; the stranger to my church that slips into my pew at the last moment, or the generous patron that drops into the agency to donate money or goods to the homeless. The words, "Get out of my way" should not be immediately followed by, "and do you have a church home?"Whatever denomination or creed we follow, as one of the "Christ-Ones", the "Riesen" for how we live our lives everyday really is all in a Name.

Friday, May 15, 2009

This promotion is every friday all summer long. You can request the coupon 4 times per household (fir the duration of the promotion). First 500,000 people today. The coupon will be sent to you and allows you to chose from: M&M's, Milky Way, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Twix, or Dove.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Just a reminder to everyone that tomorrow is Mother's Day. You still have time to do something special for the special ladies in your life. You don't have to spend a lot to give a gift that is meaningful. Here are some last minute ideas:

Coupon Book: Run to your favorite office supply store (Walmart and Dollar tree carry similar products) to pick up an inexpensive coupon accordion envelope. Fill it with coupons for products you know that special lady loves. Throw in some restaurant gift certificates or homemade coupons for a nice evening out or a movie night at home (even some coupons redeemable for having someone else do the vacuuming or dish washing, would be nice). (Thanks to Joy for the idea)

Photo in Frame: Almost all mother's and grandmothers love photos of their loved ones. Upload your favorite picture to Walgreen's.com or a similar site and order an 8x10. The dollar stores often have frames that would accommodate such a photo. I'm sure your gift would be a big hit. If you are far away from your mom, you can also prepay the order and send the photos to a Walgreens near her.

Photo CD: Make a photo CD on your computer of favorite family photos from the past year. A lot of Grandma's are too far away to see the everyday moments, so a photo CD would make a great gift.

Book: Books are always a great gift idea. Find a reasonably priced book in her favorite genre and you are sure to put a smile on your mom's face. Add a gift card to her favorite coffee place and a homemade bookmark and you have a truly special gift.

Home-baked Goodies: What is your mom's favorite meal? How about her favorite dessert? Make your mom a favorite food item and deliver it to her on Mother's Day. She will appreciate the thoughtfulness almost as much as the treat.

Homemade Cards: Nothing is quite as cute as a card made by the grand kids. Provide the children with magazines, scissors, glue, pretty stickers, glitter and ribbon pieces and let their imaginations go wild. Grandma (and Mom and Aunties) will surely love them.

Hand Print Flower Pots: I received this gift last year and still cherish it. Make flower pots with the kids handprints on them and plant mom's favorite flowers inside. Make sure to buy proper paint for the project.

Gift Baskets: If you've been couponing for any length of time, you are bound to have a stash of goodies you've gotten for free. Perhaps mom would appreciate a gift basket filled with shampoo, conditioner, lotion, candles, candy and other treats. Use reusable shopping bags if baskets are not available.Flowers: Many places have discounted flowers that can be purchased at quite a bargain. Everyone enjoys being thought of and remembered with such a beautiful sentiment.

"Love" Letter: Write a "love" letter to your mom. It's not often that we get to fully express how proud we are to be our parent's children or how much we appreciate the sacrifices they made for us. I think Mom would really appreciate hearing how much she is appreciated.

Happy Mother's Day! May 10 we celebrate moms and almost every church will use that as their basic theme from the pulpit. I think it is great and needed as we are told in scriptures to honor our father and mother. Just for a moment though, please consider another side to this day: those that have lost their mother, those that have had an abusive mother, those that want to be mothers but never will. Please remember them in prayer on this day that may for some be very painful. Remember those that have never known a mother...and perhaps never known a father either. Remember the mothers caught in the 'sandwich generation' - caring for their children while caring for an elderly parent. While you honor your mother this Mother's Day, please say a prayer for those who be at a totally different place in their lives.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Fifty-seven years ago, the United States Congress and President Truman passed a law which some cynics might say would never be passed today. They declared the first Thursday of May, every year, as "National Day of Prayer". This day is for people of all faiths to pray for the United States of America. Many see this as a day to celebrate the Nation's Christian heritage and foster unity within the Christian church. Prayor warriors gather to put aside political, denominational and personal differences to glorify God, to thank Him for His provision and to pray for their Country. It is a time to recognize the One who is the Almighty and the King of Kings and to worship at His feet, recognizing that He alone is in control.This Thursday is also a time to pray for each other, recognizing that prayer is our link with our Creator and He desires not only to hear what is on our hearts but that we do care for our fellow man. It is a time to stand in the gap for our loved ones and strangers, to lift those that need to be drawn closer to the Throne and take our supplications and theirs to Giver of Life.For the next few days, we invite all of you to share your prayer needs and requests with us (in the comment section below) and we will pray with and for you.Jesus has promised, " Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19).God bless you as you take time to seek His face.